Safety catch



Patented May 22, 923.

unirsn Ldhdltt EUGENE IEOBEHOUSE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO B. A. BALLOU 8c CO'MPANY, INCORPORATED, 015 PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CATCH.

I T 0 all whom it may) concern.

Be it known that I, EUGENE liionnriousn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented cer- 'tain new and useful Improvements in Safety latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety catch which is designed to be secured .to the body of a pin such as a calf pin and the like for the purpose of engaging the pointed end of a pin-tongueto fasten the same against being inadvertently released therefrom, and the object of this invention is to provide such a safety catch which is provided with a body portion having an attaching base at one end and a hook-shaped portion atits opposite end, the hook being provided with a groove in its peripheral face for the reception of a guard member which is slidably mounted therein.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved safety catch showing the guard memher in released or open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of a catch showing the guard member in closed position.

Figure 8 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrow and showing the side flanges forming the groove in the outer face of the hook the edges of which flanges are turned inwardly over those of the guard member to opera tively hold the same in position.

Figure 4 is a view of the rear of my improved catch showing the catch in the posi tion illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 1 showing the U-shape of the attaching base portion of the body member.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the body member of my improved safety catch which is preferably formed of sheet stock with its side edges folded back upon itself providing a substantially U- shaped base portion 11 at one end thereof and a hook-shaped portion 12 the opposite end thereof.

By folding the sides of this body member backward the walls 13 thereof form a very broad base which facilitates theattaching of the same by solder or otherwise to any suitable support, such as the back of a brooch, cuff pin and the like and these folded portions serve as side walls 14 about the outer peripheral surface of the hook portion providing a groove in which the guard member 15 is slidably mounted. This guard member is semi-circular in form and may be made in any desired shape in cross section, but I preferably form the same on the arc of a circle and the side flanges 14 of the hook are bent inwardly over the edges 15 of this guard member thereby preventing the guard from opening circularly which would otherwise be the case when strain is brought thereon in sliding the same to and from operating position.

This guard member is provided with an operating handle 16 which extends outwardly radially therefrom and is preferably made narrower than the body of the guard, as illustrated in Figure 4, so as not to interfere with the inwardly-extending side walls of the base portion when forced down therebetween, as illustrated in Figure 1, when moved to open position.

Many advantages are obtained by my improved safety catch over the old style safety catches which had to be swaged into shape; first, the body portion may be made of sheet stock and its sides may be folded back into substantially U-shape thus producing a very strong and durable structure; second, by folding the side walls of the hook portion over the edges of the guard member the guard is effectually prevented from opening up or spreading circularly to a larger diameter and is effectually prevented from being removed from its hookshaped bearing surface and lost; third, the edge flanges about the hook serve to stiffen and give to the hook greater strength thereby permittingthe whole device to be made of very light weight stock which is of considerable advantage particularly where the catches are made of the precious metals; fourth, by mounting the guard on the outside circumference of the hook suflicient frictional area is presented to the guard to prevent it from moving fro-m its adjusted positions thus obviating the necessity of employing detents for this purpose.

The device is extremely simple and practical in construction and effective in its operation. I

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated,

but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to Which the device is susceptible. the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I-claim: I 1. A safetycatch comprising a body ,member having an attaching base and. hookshaped portion with a groove in its outer peripheral face, and a guard member longitudinally slidablymounted in said groove.

2. A safety catch comprising a body member having an attaching base, and a hook-shaped portion With a groove in its groove limited in its opening and closing movements by said base portion.

4. A safety catch comprising a body member formed of sheet stock foldedto form a relatively enlarged broad,support-- ing base, a hook-shaped portion at its opposite end With side Walls turned inwardly to overhang and provide a groove about the outer peripheral face of the hook portion,- and a guard member semi-circular 1n cross section slidably mounted in said groove and adapted to be moved to either open or close the mouth of the hook.

5. A safety catch comprising a body mem- I ber formed of sheet stock foldedto form a broad supporting base and substantially U- shape in crosssection, a hook-shaped por- .tion at its opposite end with side Walls turned inwardly to overhangand provide agroove about the outer peripheral face of the hook portion, and a guard member hav- 1ng reduced side edges slldably mounted beneath the overhanging of said groove and adapted to be moved to either open or close the mouth of the hook. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EUGENE MoEEHoUs'E. 

